Patna: A total of 6,16,329 Divyangjans (persons with disabilities) in Bihar have been issued Unique Disabled Identity (UDID) cards, according to the Social Welfare Department.
In a state-level review meeting held on Thursday, Department Secretary Bandana Preyashi, an IAS officer of 2003 batch, directed officials to expedite the processing of the remaining 1,01,334 applications, targeting at least 25% clearance by June 2025.
To ensure broader inclusion, the department will hold special camps for certification and surveys of Divyangjans. Preyashi also instructed the timely distribution of battery-operated tricycles and assistive devices under the Mukhyamantri Divyangjan Empowerment Scheme ‘Sambal’, setting annual targets of 6,000 tricycles and 7,000 devices. Last year, 24,981 tricycles and 97,142 assistive devices were distributed.
She further directed the disposal of 58 pending legal guardianship applications and emphasized greater public outreach through banners, street plays, and community engagement.
In a review of care initiatives, Ms Preyashi instructed the rehabilitation of mentally challenged women and children in three Aasra homes in Patna and assessed the functioning of residential and day schools for children with disabilities.
The review also covered key schemes such as the National Scholarship Scheme, ADP, Deendayal Divyang Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS), and CPDA, setting a target to award scholarships to 5,000 students in 2025–26. Notably, 7,755 students have benefited in the last five years.
During the meeting, officials were also asked to submit reports on 27 pending applications related to the State Commissioner for Disability Office.
Present at the meeting were Director Yogesh Kumar Sagar, Deputy Secretary Harishankar Ram, Additional Commissioner Rubi Kumari, Deputy Director Bhuvan Kumar, and other senior officials.
About UDUD Cards
The Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card is a digital identity card issued by the Government of India to persons with disabilities (Divyangjans). Launched under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the UDID card aims to create a national database of persons with disabilities and streamline the delivery of benefits and services under various government schemes. It replaces multiple documents with a single ID card that is valid across India. The UDID contains key details such as the type and percentage of disability and enables online access to services such as scholarships, aids/appliances, skill training, and rehabilitation support.
